The Trump Tracker · Research Division

CRITICS & WHISTLEBLOWERS

Former Officials Who Spoke Out Against Trump

69 DOCUMENTED CRITICS · UPDATED MARCH 2026

69 Former Officials Have Spoken Out50 Republicans Who Broke Ranks14 Military Leaders Among CriticsFormer Secretaries of Defense, State, and Homeland SecurityThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Called Trump 'Fascist to the Core'His Own Chief of Staff Said Trump Praised HitlerTwo Former Vice Presidential Nominees Endorsed His OpponentMultiple Trump-Appointed Officials Turned Against Him69 Former Officials Have Spoken Out50 Republicans Who Broke Ranks14 Military Leaders Among CriticsFormer Secretaries of Defense, State, and Homeland SecurityThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Called Trump 'Fascist to the Core'His Own Chief of Staff Said Trump Praised HitlerTwo Former Vice Presidential Nominees Endorsed His OpponentMultiple Trump-Appointed Officials Turned Against Him

69 former officials, military leaders, cabinet members, and Republican figures have publicly spoken out against Donald Trump — many of whom served in his own administration.

0 Former officials and leaders who spoke out against Trump
0 Categories of critics — cabinet, military, Congress, and more
0 Republicans who broke ranks to criticize Trump
0 Military leaders — generals and admirals who served their country
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Search, filter, and explore every documented critic. Click any card to read their full profile, key statements, and timeline.

Category
Party
Showing 69 of 69 critics

Adam Kinzinger

Republican

U.S. Representative from Illinois

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Reserves)

Former Republican Congressman and Air Force officer who served on the January 6 Committee and became one of Trump's most vocal GOP critics, endorsing...

Alberto Gonzales

Republican

Attorney General

Former Attorney General under George W. Bush who endorsed Kamala Harris, warning that Trump is a serious threat to the rule of law.

Alyssa Farah Griffin

Republican

White House Director of Strategic Communications

Former White House communications director and co-host of The View who said she is 'genuinely afraid' of Trump and voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.

Andrew McCabe

Democrat

Deputy Director of the FBI

Former FBI Deputy Director fired by Trump who said the FBI had reason to investigate whether there was an inappropriate relationship between Trump...

Anthony Scaramucci

Republican

White House Communications Director

Former White House communications director who later called Trump a 'clear and present danger' and described his behavior as early-stage fascism, and...

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Republican

Former Governor of California

Former California Governor and action movie star who became a vocal Trump critic, particularly on issues of immigration, the Capitol riot, and...

Asa Hutchinson

Republican

Governor of Arkansas

Former Arkansas governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate who said Trump disqualified himself because of January 6 and that Trump should...

Ben Sasse

Republican

U.S. Senator from Nebraska

Former Republican Senator who denounced efforts to overturn the 2020 election as a dangerous ploy, called colleagues 'institutional arsonists,' and...

Betsy DeVos

Republican

Secretary of Education

Former Education Secretary who resigned after January 6, saying Trump's rhetoric 'inflamed' the violence and there was 'no mistaking the impact your...

Bill Kristol

Independent

Conservative Commentator and Editor

Conservative commentator and Weekly Standard co-founder who publicly called Trump unfit in 2016 and later urged support for Joe Biden in 2020.

Bob Corker

Republican

U.S. Senator from Tennessee

Former Republican senator who called the White House an "adult day care center," said senior aides were separating the country from chaos, and said...

Cassidy Hutchinson

Republican

Special Assistant to the President

Former White House aide and January 6 Committee witness who testified that Trump knew supporters were armed on January 6 and later said she would...

Charlie Sykes

Independent

Conservative Radio Host and Commentator

Conservative commentator and former Milwaukee talk radio host who said he would vote for Joe Biden in 2020 and endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024,...

Chris Christie

Republican

Governor of New Jersey

Former Governor of New Jersey and 2024 Republican presidential candidate who called Trump unfit and said he would not enable Trump to become...

Chuck Hagel

Republican

Secretary of Defense (2013-2015)

Former Secretary of Defense and two-term U.S. Senator from Nebraska who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024. Hagel, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and...

Cindy McCain

Republican

Widow of Senator John McCain

Widow of Senator John McCain who endorsed Joe Biden on September 22, 2020, citing a country-first ethic and calling Biden a good and honest man.

Dan Coats

Republican

Director of National Intelligence

Former Director of National Intelligence who warned that Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents could cost lives.

Dick Cheney

Republican

Vice President of the United States

Former Vice President under George W. Bush who called Trump the 'greatest threat to our republic' and said he would vote for Kamala Harris in 2024.

Elaine Chao

Republican

Secretary of Transportation

Former Transportation Secretary who resigned after January 6, calling the attack "entirely avoidable" and saying she was deeply troubled by it.

Fred Upton

Republican

U.S. Representative from Michigan

Long-serving Republican Congressman who voted to impeach Trump after January 6 and retired after Trump endorsed his primary opponent.

Gary Cohn

Democrat

Director of the National Economic Council

Former National Economic Council director who said the administration must do better in condemning white supremacists after Charlottesville.

Geoff Duncan

Republican

Lieutenant Governor of Georgia

Former Republican Lieutenant Governor of Georgia who said Trump was morally bankrupt, rejected 2020 election lies, and endorsed Joe Biden at the 2024...

George Conway

Republican

Attorney and Conservative Commentator

Conservative attorney who became a prominent Trump critic, co-founding the Lincoln Project and saying Trump is unfit for office.

George Will

Republican

Conservative Columnist

Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist who left the Republican Party over Trump and became one of his most intellectually rigorous critics,...

H.R. McMaster

Independent

National Security Advisor

Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Retired)

Former National Security Advisor who detailed Trump's dangerous ideas and said he abandoned his constitutional oath on January 6.

J. Michael Luttig

Republican

Federal Appeals Court Judge (1991-2006)

Retired federal judge and conservative legal authority who endorsed Kamala Harris, calling Trump 'unfit to serve' and warning he poses an existential...

James Clapper

Democrat

Director of National Intelligence

Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Former Director of National Intelligence who questioned Trump's fitness for office and said Putin was handling Trump like an asset after the Helsinki...

James N. Mattis

Independent

Secretary of Defense

General, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

Former Secretary of Defense who resigned in 2018 and later criticized Trump for divisiveness and abuse of constitutional rights in a 2020 statement.

James Stavridis

Independent

Supreme Allied Commander of NATO

Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO who criticized the use of military force against protesters in 2020 as beyond American norms.

Jeb Bush

Republican

Former Governor of Florida

Former Florida Governor and 2016 presidential candidate who became a frequent target of Trump's attacks and emerged as a consistent critic of Trump's...

Jeff Flake

Republican

U.S. Senator from Arizona

Former Republican senator who delivered a major Senate floor speech warning against the undermining of democratic norms and later endorsed Kamala...

Joe Walsh

Republican

U.S. Representative from Illinois

Former Tea Party congressman who challenged Trump in the 2020 Republican primary and later endorsed Joe Biden.

John Boehner

Republican

Speaker of the House (2011-2015)

Former Speaker of the House who called the January 6 Capitol attack a 'bloody insurrection' and has been sharply critical of Trump's role in it....

John Bolton

Republican

National Security Advisor

Former National Security Advisor who called Trump a 'laughing fool' to world leaders and warned he's dangerous to democracy.

John Brennan

Democrat

Director of Central Intelligence

Former CIA Director whose security clearance was revoked by Trump and who called Trump's conduct 'nothing short of treasonous' and a threat to...

John F. Kelly

Independent

White House Chief of Staff

General, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

Trump's longest-serving Chief of Staff who called him a fascist and detailed his admiration for Adolf Hitler.

John Kasich

Republican

Former Governor of Ohio

Former Ohio Governor and 2016 presidential candidate who became one of Trump's most prominent Republican critics, refusing to endorse him and...

John McCain

Republican

U.S. Senator from Arizona

Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

War hero and U.S. Senator who criticized Trump, including after Trump's attack on his POW record, and cast the decisive vote against the 2017...

Justin Amash

Libertarian

U.S. Representative from Michigan

Former Republican congressman who became the first GOP House member to call for Trump's impeachment after the Mueller report and later left the...

Larry Hogan

Republican

Governor of Maryland

Former Republican Governor of Maryland who said neither Trump nor Harris had earned his vote in 2024 and who wrote in Ronald Reagan in 2020 instead...

Lisa Murkowski

Republican

U.S. Senator from Alaska

Republican Senator from Alaska who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP primary, and said she...

Liz Cheney

Republican

U.S. Representative from Wyoming

House Republican Conference Chair who served on the January 6 Committee and endorsed Kamala Harris in September 2024 after losing her primary amid...

Mark A. Milley

Independent

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General, U.S. Army (Retired)

The nation's highest-ranking military officer who called Trump 'fascist to the core' and 'the most dangerous person to this country.'

Mark Esper

Republican

Secretary of Defense

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)

Former Secretary of Defense who was fired by Trump in a tweet and later said he would not vote for Trump because he does not meet basic criteria for...

Matthew Pottinger

Republican

Deputy National Security Advisor

Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

Former Deputy National Security Advisor and Marine who resigned after January 6 and testified about his decision to leave following Trump's tweet...

Michael Cohen

Democrat

Personal Attorney to Donald Trump

Trump's former personal attorney and 'fixer' who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and became a key witness against Trump, calling him a...

Michael Hayden

Republican

Director of Central Intelligence

General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Former CIA and NSA Director who warned that Trump's style did not fit the intelligence community and said intelligence would be "dead" under another...

Michael Steele

Republican

Former RNC Chairman

Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee who became one of Trump's most outspoken Republican critics, frequently appearing on MSNBC to...

Mick Mulvaney

Republican

White House Chief of Staff

Former Acting White House Chief of Staff who resigned as Special Envoy to Northern Ireland after January 6 and said he could not continue serving...

Mike Mullen

Independent

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs who wrote the Atlantic op-ed 'I Cannot Remain Silent' condemning the Lafayette Square photo op and warning...

Mike Pence

Republican

Vice President of the United States

Trump's Vice President who refused to overturn the 2020 election, ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, and said he would not endorse...

Miles Taylor

Republican

Chief of Staff at Department of Homeland Security

Former DHS Chief of Staff who wrote the anonymous New York Times 'Resistance' op-ed and later endorsed Joe Biden, calling Trump 'a man without...

Mitt Romney

Republican

U.S. Senator from Utah

Former Republican presidential nominee and U.S. Senator who became Trump's most prominent GOP critic in Congress, voting to convict him in both...

Nikki Haley

Republican

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor who ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, then said he needed to earn her voters and later said...

Olivia Troye

Republican

Homeland Security Advisor to Vice President Pence

Former homeland security advisor to Vice President Pence who resigned in 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden, criticizing Trump's COVID-19 response.

Pat Toomey

Republican

Former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania

Former Pennsylvania Senator who supported Trump on most policies but became a vocal critic after the 2020 election, voting to convict Trump in his...

Paul Ryan

Republican

Speaker of the House

Former Speaker of the House and 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee who retired from Congress in 2019 and was quoted in Tim Alberta's book...

Peter Strzok

Democrat

FBI Deputy Assistant Director

Former FBI counterintelligence official who argued Trump's conduct posed a counterintelligence threat and detailed his concerns in the 2020 book...

Preet Bharara

Democrat

U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York

Former U.S. Attorney who was fired by Trump after refusing to resign and later warned that Trump's attacks on institutions are authoritarian in...

Rex Tillerson

Republican

Secretary of State

Former Secretary of State and ExxonMobil CEO who was fired by Trump via tweet and later called Trump 'undisciplined' and a 'moron' who doesn't like...

Sally Yates

Democrat

Acting Attorney General

Former Acting Attorney General who was fired after refusing to defend Trump's travel ban, saying she was not convinced it was lawful.

Sarah Matthews

Republican

White House Deputy Press Secretary

Former White House Deputy Press Secretary who resigned on January 6 and became a key witness before the January 6 Committee, warning Trump is 'unfit...

Stanley McChrystal

Independent

Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

General, U.S. Army (Retired)

Former four-star general who led Joint Special Operations Command and called Trump 'immoral' and unrepresentative of American values.

Stephanie Grisham

Republican

White House Press Secretary

Former White House Press Secretary who said she was terrified of Trump running again and later endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024.

Susan Collins

Republican

U.S. Senator from Maine

Moderate Republican Senator from Maine who condemned Trump's Ukraine conduct in the first impeachment and later wrote in Nikki Haley in 2024.

Ty Cobb

Republican

White House Special Counsel

Former White House lawyer who later called Trump a threat to democracy and said he was the greatest threat the country has faced.

Will Hurd

Republican

U.S. Representative from Texas

Former CIA officer and Republican Congressman who called Trump a 'lawless, selfish, failed politician,' ran in the 2024 GOP primary, and later...

William Barr

Republican

Attorney General

Former Attorney General who broke with Trump after the 2020 election and called Trump's fraud claims "bullshit" in sworn testimony.

William McRaven

Independent

Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command

Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Retired four-star admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and publicly criticized Trump in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed after the...

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These are the people who served alongside Donald Trump — his own cabinet, his generals, his staff. They saw him up close, and they spoke out.